大象传媒

A FOOTBALLER'S WEDGE

The pay of players like Viduka and Kluivert is under scrutiny

With all the shenanigans going on in football, a yellow card here, a court appearance there, are we all happy with what our iconic players are being paid? We hit the streets to find out the reality behind the pay.

Put your hand in your pocket. Pull out the money you have in it. What does it amount to?

Maybe it's 拢20, or with teenage kids in the family, it might just be a fiver or even 50p.

What would it be like to carry a wedge of notes around that would amount to 拢70 grand? Well apart from having to have pockets the size of pannier bags, it would feel pretty cool.

Especially considering that the average weekly wage in the North East is only 拢400 a week.

The good ol' days

Quinn - a hugely revered player, but not highly paid

In the days of "Woor Jackie" (Jackie Millburn), he'd be lucky if he was bringing back the bacon with 拢17 a week.

There again, with leather balls and leather nail in studs - most things were a world apart from today's game.

In 2004, there are some pretty fat cats around in the North East.

Patrick Kluivert and Mark Viduka are among them. They know what that kind of loot is like to have "in the back pocket".

It was only about 10 years ago that Mickey Quinn was drawing about 拢2,000 a week for pulling on the hallowed Newcastle number nine shirt. It was all a different sort of game.

Mickey says the stars of today are like pop-stars, "You could have a bit of a banter with the fans, now players are almost untouchable.

"Managers," he says, "could wind you up verbally and give you a rollicking if you weren't performing and threaten to leave you out by dropping you, now you can't raise your voice to a footballer because of the immense money they're on."

Smith sees a chasm of difference in today's players

It's not the players that Quinn blames for inflated wages, it's the Club Chairmen and the agents.

But foorball agent, Phil Smith, gives a less jaundiced point of view.

He believes that the money has been growing for a very long time, "You're looking at world class professionals, and in any sphere, they'll get paid really well.

"The difference is now that footballers are now paid at the top end what they're due - it's what they're owed."

So wouldn't it be fantastic to be "owed" a week's wages like that?

The bling factor

What would be the first thing you'd do with it?

Boys would be boys and buy wheels no doubt, so where better to go than to a fast car emporium?

There are so many Ferraris, Aston Martins, and Lamborghinis around the North East, it's almost easy to play "spot the player".

But in all modesty the average football star in this corner of the country would probably be able to take out the title deeds to an equally as average family car for a mere morning's hard earned cash.

Dave has a love hate relationship with the bling-bling boys

One local barber is not amused, he says, "You only begrudge them when they 'dish the city' by behaving in an ungentlemanly manner.

"There's quite a lot of 'bling-bling' boys in Newcastle - they've got their gold and diamond encrusted watches and up to their naughties here, there and everywhere.

"When the guys are playing football like Kluivert and Shearer we obviously respect them, but the moment one of these 'bling-bling boys' 'dishes the city', well that's when we disrespect them," he insists.

Is it driven by the market?

But in defence of the huge salaries, Professor Bill Gerrard of the Leeds University Business School says that it's market forces at play.

"The premiership is one of our most successful exports, internationally - that brings in the revenue and in football, as in all professional sport, that money flows through to the dressing rooms."

But let's take a reality check. When it comes down to it, it's the supporter that ends up paying for their players: no supporters - no game - no players.

Ledwinsky reckons the players are losing touch with their fans

But these days the players seem to be more than the distance of a thrown meat pie from the fans.

And according to Pete Ledwinsky, a trade unionist, "It tends to be those on my salary and a lot less who are funding these enormous salaries."

He continues, "I think it's making players more remote from local people."

What would it be like for the players if they were to struggle by on 拢20,000 a week?

Would the savings enable clubs to drop admission charges so the next generation could afford to really enjoy the beautiful game?

What do you think? - Send us your comments below聟